清乾(qian)隆(long)黑漆彩(cai)繪樓(lou)閣群仙(xian)祝壽鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)造(zao)型為木胎黑漆彩(cai)繪二層樓(lou)閣。一層正中(zhong)(zhong)為雙針時(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),寫有“乾(qian)隆(long)年制(zhi)”的(de)(de)(de)(de)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)盤(pan)上(shang)飾(shi)以造(zao)辦(ban)處特有的(de)(de)(de)(de)黃(huang)色琺(fa)瑯。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)盤(pan)上(shang)的(de)(de)(de)(de)5個上(shang)弦孔分別控制(zhi)5種(zhong)功能:走時(shi)、報(bao)時(shi)、報(bao)刻、開(kai)關(guan)門(men)、打樂(le)。鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)盤(pan)的(de)(de)(de)(de)左(zuo)右兩側為變動(dong)的(de)(de)(de)(de)布景(jing)(jing)箱,左(zuo)邊景(jing)(jing)箱的(de)(de)(de)(de)表演(yan)主題是“海屋添籌”,右邊景(jing)(jing)箱的(de)(de)(de)(de)表演(yan)主題為“群仙(xian)祝壽”。二層為3間房屋,內(nei)(nei)各(ge)有一報(bao)時(shi)人(ren)。每逢3、6、9、12時(shi),房門(men)開(kai)啟,3人(ren)手執鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)緩步出(chu)門(men),站(zhan)定(ding)后,左(zuo)邊的(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)敲(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)發出(chu)“叮”聲(sheng)(sheng),右邊的(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)敲(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)發出(chu)“當(dang)(dang)”聲(sheng)(sheng),“叮當(dang)(dang)”聲(sheng)(sheng)響一次(ci)報(bao)一刻鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),響兩次(ci)報(bao)兩刻,依次(ci)類推,報(bao)完四刻后,中(zhong)(zhong)間的(de)(de)(de)(de)人(ren)敲(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)碗(wan)(wan)報(bao)時(shi)。報(bao)時(shi)刻完畢,樂(le)曲聲(sheng)(sheng)起,景(jing)(jing)箱內(nei)(nei)的(de)(de)(de)(de)活動(dong)裝置開(kai)始運作。左(zuo)景(jing)(jing)箱內(nei)(nei)重巒疊(die)嶂間有仙(xian)鶴傲立,架著祥云(yun)(yun)的(de)(de)(de)(de)仙(xian)人(ren)緩緩升騰,云(yun)(yun)海中(zhong)(zhong)一座瓊樓(lou)陡然浮起。右景(jing)(jing)箱內(nei)(nei)扶杖的(de)(de)(de)(de)壽星正依次(ci)接受八仙(xian)敬獻的(de)(de)(de)(de)寶物。樂(le)止,報(bao)時(shi)刻人(ren)退回門(men)內(nei)(nei),樓(lou)門(men)關(guan)閉,景(jing)(jing)箱內(nei)(nei)各(ge)活動(dong)裝置復(fu)位。
清乾隆黑漆彩繪樓閣群仙祝壽鐘(zhong)為亭(ting)式(shi)(shi)鐘(zhong)共有7套機械系統,分(fen)別控(kong)制(zhi)走(zou)時、報時、景箱內的活動(dong)裝置等(deng),亭(ting)式(shi)(shi)鐘(zhong)的外殼(ke)分(fen)全金(jin)(jin)屬與金(jin)(jin)屬框玉石頂兩大類。用(yong)料上多用(yong)紫(zi)檀木(mu)、紅木(mu)為外殼(ke),以(yi)(yi)亭(ting)臺樓閣的傳統建(jian)筑形式(shi)(shi)為造型,上嵌琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang)或描以(yi)(yi)金(jin)(jin)漆等(deng)。早(zao)期(qi)金(jin)(jin)屬鐘(zhong)殼(ke)銅(tong)澆鑄,后期(qi)是鑄鉛(qian)包(bao)銅(tong)鎏(liu)金(jin)(jin)。上乘者(zhe)繪琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang),琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang)又(you)分(fen)掐絲琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang)與透明琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang),前者(zhe)適用(yong)于花卉圖案,后者(zhe)則表現人(ren)物、風景等(deng)。琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang)繪制(zhi)程(cheng)度,又(you)分(fen)為全琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang)與半琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang),全琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang)即外殼(ke)及鐘(zhong)殼(ke)內都施以(yi)(yi)琺(fa)(fa)(fa)(fa)瑯(lang),亭(ting)式(shi)(shi)鐘(zhong)的機芯以(yi)(yi)發條(tiao)為動(dong)力。
清乾(qian)隆黑(hei)漆彩(cai)繪樓(lou)閣群(qun)仙祝壽鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)為亭式(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong),是西洋自鳴鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)中的(de)一個(ge)門類(lei),具有較高的(de)觀賞價值,其(qi)(qi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)殼(ke)仿照建筑中的(de)亭閣,故稱(cheng)“亭式(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)”,上海及(ji)江浙一帶(dai)俗(su)稱(cheng)“亭子鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)”。亭式(shi)鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)四面(mian)都是玻璃,因(yin)其(qi)(qi)透明,亦稱(cheng)“四明鐘(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)”。
清(qing)乾隆(long)黑漆彩繪樓閣群(qun)仙祝壽鐘(zhong)(zhong)具(ju)的(de)制(zhi)作(zuo)有(you)相當高(gao)的(de)技術水準,其造型莊重大方,外飾華麗(li),玻璃透明,有(you)著較高(gao)的(de)觀賞性(xing)為故宮(gong)鐘(zhong)(zhong)表(biao)(biao)的(de)代表(biao)(biao)作(zuo)。把中(zhong)國傳統(tong)文化的(de)多個(ge)方面巧妙地體現在(zai)一座鐘(zhong)(zhong)表(biao)(biao)上,具(ju)有(you)極高(gao)的(de)藝(yi)(yi)術價值,現在(zai)故宮(gong)博(bo)物院(yuan)珍藏(zang)清(qing)代鐘(zhong)(zhong)表(biao)(biao)千余件,其中(zhong)做(zuo)(zuo)鐘(zhong)(zhong)處作(zuo)品數(shu)量雖不足十分之一,但它們是清(qing)宮(gong)做(zuo)(zuo)鐘(zhong)(zhong)處制(zhi)品之代表(biao)(biao),存留至今,具(ju)為稀世珍寶(bao),同時(shi)也是世界科(ke)學(xue)文化藝(yi)(yi)術寶(bao)庫中(zhong)的(de)瑰寶(bao)。
清乾隆黑漆彩繪樓閣群仙(xian)祝(zhu)(zhu)壽鐘,鐘盤(pan)的(de)(de)左(zuo)右(you)兩側(ce)為變(bian)動(dong)的(de)(de)布景(jing)(jing)箱,左(zuo)邊景(jing)(jing)箱的(de)(de)表演(yan)(yan)主(zhu)題是“海(hai)(hai)屋添籌”,右(you)邊景(jing)(jing)箱的(de)(de)表演(yan)(yan)主(zhu)題為“群仙(xian)祝(zhu)(zhu)壽”,寓(yu)(yu)意福壽雙全。右(you)邊景(jing)(jing)箱內(nei)的(de)(de)仙(xian)山之間,扶著手杖的(de)(de)老壽星接受八仙(xian)依次獻寶,寓(yu)(yu)意“八仙(xian)祝(zhu)(zhu)壽”;左(zuo)景(jing)(jing)內(nei)起伏層(ceng)疊(die)的(de)(de)山巒間,仙(xian)鶴傲(ao)立,仙(xian)人(ren)飄浮于云中,緩緩升起,海(hai)(hai)水掀開一洞,升起一座樓閣,寓(yu)(yu)意“海(hai)(hai)屋添籌”祝(zhu)(zhu)愿(yuan)長(chang)壽。“海(hai)(hai)屋添籌”這(zhe)一故事出自宋(song)代蘇軾的(de)(de)《東(dong)坡志林》一書,后來就慢慢變(bian)成了(le)比喻長(chang)壽的(de)(de)成語,被人(ren)們用作祝(zhu)(zhu)壽時的(de)(de)吉祥話(hua)。
清乾隆(long)黑漆彩繪樓閣群(qun)仙祝壽鐘(zhong)是故宮十大(da)鎮(zhen)館(guan)之(zhi)寶之(zhi)一。